Lions v Barbarians (Official Match Thread)

[mrzimmerman]

First topic message reminder :

The team has been named. What do you think? Predictions for the match?

British & Irish Lions:
S Hogg (Scotland); A Cuthbert (Wales), J Davies (Wales), J Roberts (Wales), S Maitland (Scotland); O Farrell (England), M Phillips (Wales); M Vunipola (England), R Hibbard (Wales), A Jones (Wales), R Gray (Scotland), P O’Connell (Ireland, capt), D Lydiate (Wales), J Tipuric (Wales), T Faletau (Wales).

Replacements: T Youngs (England), C Healy (Ireland), M Stevens (England), A W Jones (Wales), J Heaslip (Ireland), C Murray (Ireland), J Sexton (Ireland), G North (Wales).


Barbarians:
15 Jared Payne, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Casey Laulala, 11 Taku Ngwenya, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Sergio Parisse,
7 Sam Jones, 6 Samu Manoa, 5 Dean Mumm, 4 Marco Wentzel, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Paul James.

Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Jim Hamilton, 19 Imanol Harinordoquy, 20 Andrea Lo Cicero, 21 Kahn Fotuali'i, 22 James Hook, 23 Mike Tindall.

[GLove39]

Lovely try by the Barbarians

[Hood83]

Phillips passing, how many times? No-one's looked great in terms of distribution but for a scrummie his service is unforgiveable. Never thought a player scoring two tries could look so poor. Such a shame because when he gets it right he's very very good. I guess the heat won't be helping him.

[toml]

smokin Joe

[Sgt_Pooly]

Worst passing halfbacks in Lions history????

Awful pass from farrell

[LeinsterFan4life]

Rockocko has been very good all game.

[Cari]

Great play from Roko giving Fotuali'i the chance to get in.

30-8 conversion just slips passed the post.

[Hood83]

Take it back, Farrell's passing has been nearly as bad as Phillips'

[thebluesmancometh]

Not many better around the fringes than Phillips but awful SH, how can teams not defend him?? He takes it on himself every time.

Usually you are pretty right mate, but hos exactly does he take it on every time? Are you suggesting he carries more than he passes? Or does he carry when he spots a gap, and against the Baa's he's spotted more than average? Come on!

As in he attempts the break way too much....law of averages are some are going to come off and the Ba's defence is really poor around the fringe so he's looking great.

His passing is really poor and the only time the backs get the ball is when the Ba's kick it away.

You know I don't like him Blue lol

I agree with you there though, carrying this much v Aus will be trouble for us.

I'm not the biggest fan of him either, but he does get the odd unwarranted criticism when he clearly doesn't deserve it.

[Hood83]

Worst passing halfbacks in Lions history????

Awful pass from farrell

Ha, right up there yes!

[trebellbobaggins]

Would love to see the barbarians run it around and score some late ones now.

[Cari]

Water break no.2 30-8 at 57:08.

Farrell off and Sexytoes on!!!

Murray on for Phillips too.

[flyhalffactory]

Not many better around the fringes than Phillips but awful SH, how can teams not defend him?? He takes it on himself every time.

Usually you are pretty right mate, but hos exactly does he take it on every time? Are you suggesting he carries more than he passes? Or does he carry when he spots a gap, and against the Baa's he's spotted more than average? Come on!

As in he attempts the break way too much....law of averages are some are going to come off and the Ba's defence is really poor around the fringe so he's looking great.

His passing is really poor and the only time the backs get the ball is when the Ba's kick it away.

You know I don't like him Blue lol

Pooly his passing has been generally good today, and you know it

[George Carlin]

Murray and Sexton J on the paddock.

[thebluesmancometh]

Worst passing halfbacks in Lions history????

Awful pass from farrell

But they are making 90% of the lions passes, they are bound to look like they are struggling as the conditions and slippery ball etc effect them 10 times more than any other player!!

Yachvilli and Evans have been anonymous!

[flyhalffactory]

Knock on I think by Roberts

[Gibson]

Gowan Jonny ya boy ya! Great to see him in that shirt.

Im so proud.

[Hood83]

Oh no, not Delilah?!! Urgh. Cannot wait to see Sexton have a go

[Cari]

Possibly a try for JD....TMO decision.

[flyhalffactory]

Oh no I am wrong it came off Roberts knee

[Cari]

IT'S ALLOWED!!!



37-8 at 58:29

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Barbarians seem to be able to complete passes. It's basic skill levels. Phillips is lacking in that area. He excels in other areas. It's blatantly obvious.

[Sgt_Pooly]

Not many better around the fringes than Phillips but awful SH, how can teams not defend him?? He takes it on himself every time.

Usually you are pretty right mate, but hos exactly does he take it on every time? Are you suggesting he carries more than he passes? Or does he carry when he spots a gap, and against the Baa's he's spotted more than average? Come on!

As in he attempts the break way too much....law of averages are some are going to come off and the Ba's defence is really poor around the fringe so he's looking great.

His passing is really poor and the only time the backs get the ball is when the Ba's kick it away.

You know I don't like him Blue lol

Pooly his passing has been generally good today, and you know it

Are you kidding??

I can understand the conditions being an excuse for poor passing but to say Phillips has passed well today is crazy.

[thebluesmancometh]

Barbarians seem to be able to complete passes. It's basic skill levels. Phillips is lacking in that area. He excels in other areas. It's blatantly obvious.

Phillips and Farell have made more passes between them than the baa's together though!

Wheres your criticism of Faz?

[flyhalffactory]

Foxy is a try machine.... MOM in my mind

[Rugby Fan]

Fingers crossed, we look like we might get away without any injuries today.

[Cari]

Cuthbert in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GLove39]

good pace by Cuthbert, but thought he knocked on a few passes before?

[BamBam]

Can someone tell these idiot commentators that we are watching the Lions now, not "the big Welsh men" or the "Welsh tryscorers"

[Hood83]

Cuthbert is so deceptively quick

[Sgt_Pooly]

Good finish Cuthbert

[thebluesmancometh]

Look at how winded Cuthbert is after that burst, 30 yard sprint takes that out of him...

Highlights the humidity!!

[Cari]

Cuthbert looked a bit winded there afterwards. Hope he's all right.

42-8 at 62:24

Healsip on for Faletau

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Blues, I feel too sorry for Farrell to criticise him whereas Phillips has been excellent in other areas of his play Farrell has been plain awful. God love him. Fly his mum out to give him a hug. Farrells bad distribution isn't a defence for Phillips to be poor in the same department.

[Cari]

Can someone tell these idiot commentators that we are watching the Lions now, not "the big Welsh men" or the "Welsh tryscorers"

Yeah why are they doing that? They keep referring to players as English/Welsh/Irish/Scottish...it doesn't matter now!!!

[thebluesmancometh]

Falatau not happy with his performance, getting better as the game broke up but struggled in the tight first half.

[Sgt_Pooly]

Faletau's distibution has been pretty tidy, test 8?

[GLove39]

Look at how winded Cuthbert is after that burst, 30 yard sprint takes that out of him...

Highlights the humidity!!

think that's cause he landed on the ball when he dived in to score!!

[LondonTiger]

Will we actually learn anything from the warm-up matches?

Opposition will either be disorganised like today, or dire quality as all top players are kept away from the Lions.

Some really good stuff today, but it will be hard for any player to change Gatland's mind.

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Cuthbert fell on the ball that's why he was winded. Nothing to do with the humidity

[thebluesmancometh]

Blues, I feel too sorry for Farrell to criticise him whereas Phillips has been excellent in other areas of his play Farrell has been plain awful. God love him. Fly his mum out to give him a hug. Farrells bad distribution isn't a defence for Phillips to be poor in the same department.

And Yachvilli and Evans distribution being bad? Both have thrown air balls and balls that have died. Look at Kahn, he doesn't want to pass from the base, and is crabbing sideways closer to runners for more safety!!!

[Cari]

Look at how winded Cuthbert is after that burst, 30 yard sprint takes that out of him...

Highlights the humidity!!

think that's cause he landed on the ball when he dived in to score!!

He did. The ball was under him when he touched down.

[Cari]

Good to see Hook (on for the Baabaas) again.

[LeinsterFan4life]

Stevens getting minced in the scrum

[thebluesmancometh]

Look at how winded Cuthbert is after that burst, 30 yard sprint takes that out of him...

Highlights the humidity!!

think that's cause he landed on the ball when he dived in to score!!

Maybe part of it too, but his head gives it away, when struggling for oxygen many players use the head bob more, Cuthbert certainly was.

[Cari]

Cuthbert over for his second! Notice how he was careful not to land on the ball this time Bluesman...

[Sgt_Pooly]

Instant improement with distribution at 9 with Murray....so much for the conditions hindering Phillips

[thebluesmancometh]

Murray doing exactly what Phillips did, for 2 phases his pass was dire, then the third the gap was there, EXACTLY what Phillips has been doing!

[thebluesmancometh]

Cuthbert over for his second! Notice how he was careful not to land on the ball this time Bluesman...

He did go down on it!!!

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Compare distributions of Murray and Sexton to Phillips and Farrell. No comparison. Less said about Sextons kicking the better. At least Cuthbert didn't wind himself on the ball that time.

[Cari]

47-8 at 70:01. Sexy overcooks the kick a little bit so it goes left. Never mind.

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